Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s by Romanelli

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1990-AMERICAN
Produced By GEORGE DRAKOULIAS

1. Twice As Hard
2. Jealous Again
3. Sister Luck
4. Could I've Been So Blind
5. Seeing Things
6. Hard To Handle
7. Thick N' Thin
8. She Talks To Angels
9. Struttin' Blues
10. Stare It Cold

The debut album from The Black Crowes came from almost nowhere...The Georgia Satellites had already come from that place four years earlier. But The Black Crowes had more swagger, and they had better songs. And on this album, they reached a commercial peak that they would never again get close to, but they would become more adventerous and improve on the blueprint they drew up here. The big single was a smart Otis Redding cover ("Hard To Handle), and they also scored with "Jealous Again" and "She Talks To Angels".

"Stare It Cold" and "Seeing Things" are standouts, giving a glimpse at how much better they would become after this album,. and after replacing guitarist Jeff Cease with Marc Ford. This is a fine debut album that would be quickly overshadowed by their next two albums. It's the real return of Southern rock, years after the Skynyrd plane crash effectively ended it.
[First added to this chart: 12/04/2011]
Year of Release:
1990
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,290
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Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 10/26/2012]
Year of Release:
1998
Appears in:
Rank Score:
749
Rank in 1998:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
3. (=)
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Produced by Brian Paulson & Son Volt. Uncle Tupelo split up in 1994, and Jay Farrar formed Son Volt while his former bandmate Jeff Tweedy started Wilco. Out of the gate, Son Volt's Trace was miles above Wilco's A.M., and became one of the greatest alt country albums of all time. "Route" is the bands greatest song, and tracks like "Tear Stained Eye" and "Loose String" are stunning. The album even closes with a Ron Wood cover. How cool is Son Volt? Cooler than your band. Cooler than my band. Damn cool. [First added to this chart: 12/04/2011]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
874
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Overall chart rating: #2. Produced by Jim Scott. Strangers Almanac is the crowning achievement of Whiskeytoen. Ryan Adams gets pushed aside as a country artist by a lot of people, but he is a really brilliant songwriter, and his music is, in many cases, moe alt than country. Whiskeytown didn't last long, but it yielded this masterpiece. "Inn Town" and "Dancing With The Women At The Bar" are beautiful, but "Losering" is one of the greatest songs ever. Yes, I have a lot of Ryan Adams high on my chart. For good reason. [First added to this chart: 12/04/2011]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
555
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Comments:
5. (=)
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1995-SIRE
Produced By BRIAN PAULSON & WILCO

1. I Must Be High
2. Casino Queen
3. Box Full Of Letters
4. Shouldn’t Be Ashamed
5. Pick Up The Change
6. I Thought I Held You
7. That’s Not The Issue
8. It’s Just That Simple
9. Should’ve Been In Love
10. Passenger Side
11. Dash 7
12. Blue Eyed Soul
13. Too Far Apart

When Uncle Tupelo split up, Jay Farrar formed Son Volt. Jeff Tweedy formed Wilco…and got the rest of the band in the divorce. Tweedy was in a position to be like George Harrison on All Things Must Pass, or even like Stevie Nicks on Bella Donna: a player who had played second fiddle with minimal songwriting contributions suddenly able to burst out on his own with an amazing output. Tweedy has been pretty prolific since the breakup of Tupelo, but his first effort with Wilco, A.M., is hardly his strongest effort. The only truly alt-country album by Wilco, it has its moments, but it gets its butt kicked by Son Volt’s Trace, and it lacks the adventurous spirit of Uncle Tupelo, and especially of the later Wilco albums. A.M. is more of a breakup album than anything else, really…and you have to wonder if the songs are directed towards Farrar. The world of A.M. is very small…the world of Wilco would get a lot bigger in a hurry, as the band would give up on being a straight alt-country unit and explore many other great directions.

A.M. does have some really great moments. The 1-2 punch of “I Must Be High” and “Casino Queen”, complete with clanking bottles, is promising, but things come down from there. “Passenger Side” is one of Tweedy’s finest songs, and the John Stirratt penned “It’s Just That Simple” is lovely. Instrumentally, the band, particularly Brian Henneman from The Bottle Rockets, is excellent. The album sounds great, and the overall songwriting is strong, but it’s ultimately hard to listen to A.M. without making a lot of comparisons…all of which A.M. loses. Maybe, or maybe not fair, but that’s what it is. This album fails against the body of work of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco itself, and fails against its direct competitor, Trace. On its own, it’s a good, not great album, and it’s interesting to hear how Wilco started out.
[First added to this chart: 12/05/2011]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
376
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Comments:
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1995-ARISTA
Produced By JERRY HARRISON

1. The Big Burn
2. What's Behind Your Coat?
3. Yellar
4. The Third Rail
5. Dr. Jerome (Love Tub, Doctor)
6. Suddenly
7. Piss Tongue
8. Light A Candle For Me
9. It's A Fast Horizon
10. Raga
11. The Doubter's Glass
12. Englewood

The Bogmen's debut album is a hoot. Even though it's a bit over produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads, this is a band that sounds like it's having the time of their lives. They are led by singer Billy Campion, who sounds like he's about to go insane at any moment, and guitarist Bill Ryan. The centerpiece is the excellent "Suddenly", a schizophrenic break up song that finds the breakee completely falling into mental breakdown. The rest of the album is pretty fun, but "Suddenly", a song that should have been a hit, stays with you for awhile.

The band only recorded one more album before splitting in 1999, in large part because of Campion's drug problems. 40 Million was a promising debut that was never followed up with success. But it's a rocking good time, worth having a listen to.
[First added to this chart: 12/10/2011]
Year of Release:
1995
Appears in:
Rank Score:
106
Rank in 1995:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Produced by Butch Vig. Nevermind was the album that changed everything at the exact moment it was needed. Tired hair metal was becoming dronish, and "Smells like Teen Spirit" gave us all hope for the future. This album reminded us all that we didn't have to follow the formula, that we didn't have to make crappy power ballads, that it was okay to rock without pyrotechnic guitar solos, and that you didn't have to wear spandex and makeup to be a star. Thank you, Nirvana. Always. [First added to this chart: 12/04/2011]
Year of Release:
1991
Appears in:
Rank Score:
39,408
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Comments:
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1990-MUTE
Produced By DEPECHE MODE & FLOOD

1. World In My Eyes
2. Sweetest Perfection
3. Personal Jesus
4. Halo
5. Waiting For The Night
6. Enjoy The Silence
7. Policy Of Truth
8. Blue Dress
9. Clean

During the 1980’s, I never quite got Depeche Mode. After all, it was cheesy synth dance music, and the younger me was all about guitars, dammit. Then, at the dawn of the 90’s, came Violator, and a whole new understanding of what Depeche Mode was really all about. There was nothing soft or cheesy about what was happening on this album, and it was immediately apparent that this band had grown a lot from the days of lite pop songs like “Just Can’t Get Enough” that had ruled the waves of KROQ. THIS Depeche Mode was serious, could really play, was growing fast, and more than anything else, had real and powerful songwriting at their disposal. A band that had featured very little to no guitars during the 80’s now had guitarist Martin Gore as their principal songwriter, adding a depth to their music that had been sorely missed in their early days. For me, Violator changed the way I saw Depeche Mode forever…both for future and for past releases. From afterthought to a seriously great band in one album for me. Sometimes things just work out for the best.

Not to say that Violator isn’t a dance record. And the fact is, it was the album that put them on the charts in the United States. It’s a pop record. It’s a pop gem. From the opening synth of “World In My Eyes”, you get right away that it’s also a pretty dark record. Before you know it, you’re rocking to the exceptional “Personal Jesus”, and basking in the glory of great songs like “Enjoy The Silence”, “Halo”, and “Policy Of Truth”. Together with Black Celebration and Music For The Masses, Violator marks the end of a great trilogy of albums that was the peak of Depeche Mode. And despite the critical mixed bag of reviews it got (some dismissed it as a straight pop album, which is absurd), this is the one album by this band you should definitely end up with. Violator is as close to perfection as they ever got, and it’s one that you should definitely own. Dismiss this as pop if you must…but I say it would be a much better world if all pop aspired to be like Violator.
[First added to this chart: 06/03/2013]
Year of Release:
1990
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,464
Rank in 1990:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Produced by Stephan Jenkins and Eric Valentine. Third Eye Blind doesn't get a whole lot of love, but tell me...what would the 90's have been without this gem of a record? "Semi-Charmed Life", "Jumper", and "How's It Gonna Be" surrounded by a cast of great rock songs. People often wonder why they like this, then they hear it again and remember all of the good tunes and great sounds. That's why. Because it's simply a well made, well written collection of great songs. [First added to this chart: 03/05/2013]
Year of Release:
1997
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,024
Rank in 1997:
Rank in 1990s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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1991-ATLANTIC
Produced By DAVITT SIGERSON, ERIC ROSE, IAN STANLEY & TORI AMOS

1. Crucify
2. Girl
3. Silent All These Years
4. Precious Things
5. Winter
6. Happy Phantom
7. China
8. Leather
9. Mother
10. Tear In Your Hand
11. Me And A Gun
12. Little Earthquakes

Little Earthquakes, the debut solo album from Tori Amos, is still by far her best work. Coming from almost nowhere (ala Alanis), jump starting rock for women (ala Alanis) and leaving behind an embarrassing previous recorded legacy (ala Alanis), Amos hit the ground running with just her piano and a stunning set of amazing songs. It's all great stuff here..."Me And A Gun", "Leather", "Crucify", "Silent All These Years" are personal and powerful pieces of Amos and her personal life. Earthquakes is just a great album.

She became better known for he later treatment of songs like "Smells Like Teen Spirit", and while her later albums have been very good, she's never topped her debut. Little Earthquakes is the one by her that you really should have.
[First added to this chart: 12/05/2011]
Year of Release:
1992
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,974
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s composition

Year Albums %


1990 9 9%
1991 11 11%
1992 15 15%
1993 17 17%
1994 13 13%
1995 11 11%
1996 6 6%
1997 9 9%
1998 7 7%
1999 2 2%
Artist Albums %


Uncle Tupelo 4 4%
Nirvana 3 3%
Pearl Jam 3 3%
Wilco 2 2%
The Jayhawks 2 2%
Radiohead 2 2%
The Lemonheads 2 2%
Show all
Country Albums %


United States 78 78%
United Kingdom 11 11%
Mixed Nationality 3 3%
Canada 3 3%
Ireland 2 2%
Sweden 1 1%
France 1 1%
Show all
Live? Albums %
No 96 96%
Yes 4 4%

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s chart changes

Biggest climbers
Climber Up 13 from 81st to 68th
Sister Sweetly
by Big Head Todd & The Monsters
Biggest fallers
Faller Down 1 from 68th to 69th
No Quarter: Jimmy Page And Robert Plant Unledded
by Jimmy Page & Robert Plant
Faller Down 1 from 69th to 70th
Grave Dancers Union
by Soul Asylum
Faller Down 1 from 70th to 71st
Grace
by Jeff Buckley
TitleSourceTypePublishedCountry
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s Brandon81990s decade chart2024
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990sFinky1990s decade chart2025
Top 83 Music Albums of the 1990smaverick4701990s decade chart2015Unknown
Los 100 mejores discos de los años 90Diariocrítico1990s decade chart2016Spain
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990sedubs1990s decade chart2016
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums RomanelliOverall chart2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s StefanR101990s decade chart2020
100 Best Albums of the NinetiesRolling Stone1990s decade chart2010United States
Rolling Stone 100 Best Albums Of The 1990sWayneMCCustom chart2019
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s lightmyway1990s decade chart2015

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s ratings

Average Rating: 
87/100 (from 45 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
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02/09/2023 22:04 pedro1976  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 10385/100
  
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02/06/2023 02:26 jonatascv1990  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1478/100
  
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06/26/2021 23:01 zwiebel  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 18886/100
  
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05/03/2021 09:53 jnfbn  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 31096/100

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This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 86.8/100, a mean average of 85.9/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 87.1/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 17.1.

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s comments

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Rating:  
65/100
From 02/06/2023 02:27
Good chart!
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Rating:  
100/100
From 02/10/2022 00:44
Good descriptions and a bunch of new records for me to check out. Favorited.
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Rating:  
95/100
From 05/04/2021 18:49
This is an excellent list. Lots of "alt-country" here, which is much more Replacements-Meets-Bruce Springsteen than traditional folk or country.
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From 05/03/2021 18:04
I can't really give a good rating because I haven't listened to 96 of these albums, but I just want to say that I am convinced that Romanelli and AM are the same person
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Rating:  
90/100
From 05/03/2021 09:28
Great chart
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Rating:  
90/100
From 01/18/2020 16:05
I really appreciate some of the more personal picks. This is a really good chart. 14 albums in common is pretty good. Perhaps one day I'll check out Uncle Tupelo.
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Rating:  
85/100
From 05/30/2019 07:36
Really love the detailed notes and careful selections!! I still feel it's a little too focused on American alt-rock for my liking however, would be nice to see some electronic releases/more hip hop besides Public Enemy at no.73!
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Rating:  
90/100
From 05/30/2019 02:57
23 albums in common. Solid other picks!
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Rating:  
100/100
From 05/29/2019 20:20
awesome chart!
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Rating:  
100/100
From 10/01/2017 05:52
Ahhh... That's a great chart right there.
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Best Ever Artists
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20. Bruce Springsteen
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